Technical Committees

The American Public Works Association has several volunteer committees to assist in the management of the association and its works. The most substantial of these are the Technical Committees that deal with specific public works areas. APWA has adopted this structure to ensure that the association remains responsive to the needs of its members and the communities they serve.

APWA committees offer members the opportunity of public service on a national scale and a chance to participate in the process of constructive change in the public interest. Each committee may meet one or more times during the year dependent upon a substantive agenda. All committees meet at Congress. Several conference calls may be held. If subcommittees/task forces are established, members of committees may serve as liaisons to those groups.

If you are interested in serving on a Technical Committee, please visit this link.

Emergency Management Committee
The Emergency Management Committee’s mission is to provide APWA members with resources and a forum for exchanging and developing ideas, knowledge, and technologies for minimizing the impact and consequences of disasters. It also intends to foster recognition of public works' important role(s) in emergency management, including its strong involvement in mitigation and recovery, as well as to influence public policies that will strengthen the ability of government at all levels to better address disaster management.

Mitigation and Preparedness Subcommittee – This subcommittee focuses on 1) sustained actions that reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from natural hazards and their affect; 2) actions and activities public works engage in to hinder the occurrence of natural or manmade disaster; 3) or are necessary to prepare for disasters and emergencies whether they are natural or manmade.

Response Subcommittee – Focus on actions and activities that take place immediately prior to or following the onset of a disaster or emergency toward protection of life, property and the environment

Recovery Subcommittee – Focus on activities that are long term and conducted beyond the initial crisis period that focus on restoring all systems in a jurisdiction to pre-disaster condition.

Canadan Emergency Management Subcommittee - Focus on support to the Canadian public works community in their emergency management efforts.

Engineering & Technology Committee
Its mission is to support APWA's role as the recognized leader in public works by providing its members with the resources for exchanging and developing ideas, information, skills, knowledge, and technologies necessary for: effectively applying sound engineering practices and modern technologies across all disciplines within the Public Works arena.

Facilities & Grounds Committee
The mission of the Facilities and Grounds Committee of the APWA is to provide APWA members with the resources for exchanging and developing ideas, information, skills, knowledge, and technologies for the operation, management, and maintenance of public buildings, grounds, and parks. The committee also recommends and advances APWA policies and positions concerning public buildings and grounds issues.

Fleet Services Committee
The mission of the Fleet Services Committee is to support APWA's role as the recognized leader in public works by providing its members with the resources for exchanging and developing ideas, information, skills, knowledge, and technologies for the operation, management, and maintenance of public sector vehicle and equipment fleets. The committee also recommends and advances APWA policies and positions concerning fleet operations.

Leadership & Management Committee
The mission of the Leadership & Management Committee is to advance public works professionalism through research, application and advocacy of innovative leadership and best management practices.

Knowledge Team Subcomittee - Its mission is to disseminate leadership and management information to APWA members through writing articles, speaking at various conferences or other methods.

Solid Waste Management Committee
Its mission is to serve as a center of expertise on solid waste issues for APWA. The Committee develops and promotes environmentally sound, cost effective and efficient solid waste management policies and programs for APWA members by reviewing the latest technologies, practices, regulations and legislation in the field and providing opportunities to exchange information.

Transportation Committee
Its mission is to provide APWA members with resources for exchanging and developing ideas, information, skills, knowledge, and technologies for the advancement of APWA's transportation objective and to develop and advocate environmentally sound, sustainable, cost effective, and safe systems that enhance the livability and quality of life in our communities through active public involvement.

Project Delivery Subcommittee

Road Safety Subcommittee – The mission of the Subcommittee is to assist APWA member agencies to reduce the frequency and severity of serious crashes in their own jurisdictions, with policies and techniques that are cost-effective and appropriate for local governments. The Sub-committee develops strategies and recommends policy and position statements to the Transportation Committee to accomplish this mission.

Sustainable Transportation Subcommittee – The mission of this subcommittee is to gather information on the best practices in sustainable transportation and encourage their use by educating the APWA membership. The subcommittee primarily serves the Transportation Committee’s goal to “assist APWA members to acquire and maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully manage public works infrastructure and deliver transportation services cost effectively.” The APWA Center for Sustainability core principles also provides guidance to the subcommittee’s efforts.

Winter Maintenance Subcommittee – The mission of the subcommittee is to promote the development and use of the safest, most cost effective, efficient and environmentally sensitive winter maintenance technologies, equipment, materials and practices; thus providing citizens with excellent quality of life during the snow and ice season.

Utility & Public Right-of-Way Committee
The mission of the UPROW Committee is to provide education and information that will raise awareness and promote the best use of the public rights-of-way for the public good and to provide a forum where stakeholders can come together to discuss common issues and best management practices that will promote the peaceful integration of all users and stakeholders within the public rights-of-way.

Abandoned Utilites Subcommittee – The mission of thissubcommittee is to provide a forum that represents the interest of local governments and utilities, facilitate the transfer of knowledge, information and best practices with respect to abandoned utilities. Abandoned Utilities are a growing problem literally "beneath our feet". Abandoned utilities reduce the amount of usable space in which to install new utilities. In addition, they add to construction time and cost because of the unknown status of lines discovered during construction activities. Because our ROW's are a finite resource, it is our belief that this problem must be addressed sooner rather than later.

Construction Practices/GIROW Subcommittee – The mission of this subcommittee is to provide a forum that represents the interest of local governments and utilities, while facilitating the transfer of knowledge, information and best management practices with respect to public and private construction activities in the public rights-of-way. Additionlly, to educate state and public works agencies and local regulators about natural gas industry programs and undertake efforts that restore street cuts and pavement restoration more quickly, with less public impact, better quality and often at a lower cost.

Damage Prevention Subcommittee – The purpose of this subcommittee is to promote facility damage prevention through education, guidance and assistance.

Right-of-Way Management Subcommittee – The mission of this subcommittee is to provide a forum that represents the interest of local governments and utilities, while facilitating the transfer of knowledge, information and best practices with respect to management of the public rights-of-way.

Locating Subcomittee – The mission of this subcommittee is to provide a forum that represents the interest of local governments and utilities, while facilitating the transfer of knowledge, information and best practices with respect to locating and marking utilities within the public rights-of-way.

Water Resources Management Committee
Is mission is to recommend and advance APWA policies and positions regarding legislation and regulations that affect public works practices in the disciplines of water resources management; provide forums for APWA members to exchange ideas, technologies, and information on public works practices; address water resources issues including laws, regulations, and services to the public; identify and promote research needed to advance public works practices in the area of water resources management; and enhance service to APWA members by providing educational opportunities, information exchange, and representation.